Modi Urges to Celebrate 150 Years of Vande Mataram

New Delhi: Extending greetings on the occasion of Chhath Puja, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said festivals have become more vibrant this year due to the success of Operation Sindoor. In his 30-minute Mann ki Baat address, Mr Modi spoke about the steps taken to eradicate the Maoist menace, urged citizens to make the 150th year of the national song Vande Mataram memorable and touched upon several unique initiatives undertaken by citizens in different parts of the country.

In the 127th edition of his monthly radio address, the Prime Minister described Chhath Puja as “a confluence of devotion, affection and tradition" that reflected India's social unity.

"The mahaparva of Chhath is a reflection of the deep unity between culture, nature, and society. Every section of society comes together at the Chhath ghats… This sight is the most beautiful example of India's social unity. No matter where you are, within the country or in any corner of the world, if you get the opportunity, do participate in the Chhath festival," said the Prime Minister. The PM also urged citizens to make the 150th year of the national song Vande Mataram, which depicts a vibrant and magnificent image of India, memorable by carrying forward its values for future generations.

Informing that many programmes related to Vande Mataram will be organised throughout the country to commemorate 150 years of the national song penned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and first sung by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896. Recalling his letter to citizens on the occasion of the festival season, the Prime Minister said the achievements of the country have made this festive season more vibrant.

"Operation Sindoor has filled every Indian with pride. This time around, lamps of joy were lit even in those areas where the darkness of Maoist terror once prevailed… People want the complete eradication of the Maoist terror that had jeopardised the future of their children," Mr Modi said.

The Prime Minister also lauded the courage of Komaram Bheem, who had fought against the atrocities of the Nizam of Hyderabad and killed an officer dispatched by him to seize the crops of farmers in the region. He also said on November 15 the nation will celebrate the Janajateeya Gaurav Diwas, the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

"Just like Bhagwan Birsa Munda and Komaram Bheem, there have been many other great luminaries in our tribal communities. I urge you to definitely read about them," Mr Modi said.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, whom he described as “one of the greatest luminaries of the nation in modern times”.

The Prime Minister hailed the efforts of the paramilitary forces to induct Indian dog breeds in their units. "Our indigenous dogs have also displayed amazing courage. Last year, during a patrol in a Maoist-affected area of Chhattisgarh, an indigenous dog of the CRPF detected 8 kg of explosives," he said, adding that the BSF and the CRPF have inducted Indian breeds such as Rampur Hounds, Mudhol Hounds, Mongrels, Kombai and Pandikona in their dog squads. Some of these will take part in the parade organised at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31.

Mr Modi also lauded the efforts to cultivate coffee in Odisha's Koraput, which is benefiting people in the region. He said that the hot beverage is truly delectable and indeed a pride of Odisha.

"You all know about my association with tea, but today I thought, why not discuss coffee in Mann ki Baat... You may recall, last year we talked about Araku coffee...many people from Odisha also shared their feelings with me regarding Koraput coffee. They wrote to me saying that Koraput coffee should also be discussed... There are people in Koraput who are cultivating coffee through their sheer passion. There also are many women whose lives have been pleasantly transformed by coffee," the Prime Minister said. He marvelled at the diversity of Indian coffee and asserted that they are becoming very popular all over the world.

The Prime Minister said the world of culture and social media has lent Sanskrit a new lease of life, as many young people are speaking in and about the language through reels. He mentioned several social media channels that are promoting the language and making it popular.

The Prime Minister also touched upon several unique initiatives undertaken by citizens in different parts of the country, including efforts to revive mangroves in Gujarat, setting up Garbage Cafes in Chhattisgarh and attempts to revive lakes in Bengaluru.